BILL NUMBER: AJR 46	CHAPTERED  07/13/00

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   101
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   JULY 13, 2000
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   JULY 6, 2000
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 11, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 9, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Longville

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2000

   Assembly Joint Resolution No. 46--Relative to commercial space
transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 46, Longville.  Commercial space transportation:  federal
indemnification.
   This measure would memorialize the President and the Congress of
the United States to protect the leadership role our state and nation
have in the commercial launching of private sector satellites and to
ensure continued growth in market share by continuing federal
indemnification of licensed launches and reentries until January 1,
2006.




   WHEREAS, Commercial space transportation can involve significant
risk of damage to property, and the death of, or injury to, people;
and
   WHEREAS, Commercial insurance is available at a reasonable cost to
cover most, but not all, of those risks; and
   WHEREAS, The governments of other nations provide financial
protection from third-party losses that result from commercial
launches, giving those other nations' launch providers a significant
competitive advantage in the international marketplace over the
United States space transportation industry; and
   WHEREAS, Since 1988, the Congress of the United States has
provided for federal indemnification of those third-party losses
exceeding insurance for launches and, more recently, for reentries
licensed by the United States Department of Transportation, but
federal indemnification will expire on December 31, 2000, without
further congressional action; and
   WHEREAS, There have never been claims for damage to property, or
the death of, or injury to, people in excess of the amount of private
insurance required by the United States Department of Transportation
and obtained by licensed launch or reentry providers, and the
Congress of the United States has not been requested to pay any
claims; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully
memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to
protect the leadership role our state and nation have in the
commercial launching of private sector satellites and to ensure
continued growth in market share by continuing federal
indemnification of licensed launches and reentries until January 1,
2006; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to President and Vice President of the United States,
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority
Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States.
